The wait is almost over, and the “King” has officially returned to his kingdom.
As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up for their IPL 2026 campaign, all eyes are on the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. But it wasn’t just the return of the team that had fans buzzing this week; Lotus365 it was the sight of Virat Kohli back in the nets, looking more dangerous than ever.
In a recently released video by the franchise, Kohli was seen dismantling bowlers with a range of stunning aerial hits, sending a clear message to the rest of the league: the defending champions are not resting on their laurels.
The Return to Chinnaswamy
The 2026 pre-season camp marks a significant emotional return for the team and its fans. Following the historic maiden title win in 2025, the atmosphere at the Chinnaswamy is electric. Kohli, who has been the heartbeat of this franchise for nearly two decades, wasted no time in getting back to business.
While he initially began his personal training in London earlier this month, his arrival in Bengaluru has shifted the camp into high gear. The viral footage shows Kohli stepping out to spinners and lofting pacers with that trademark flick-of-the-wrist power, demonstrating a “fearless” approach that often comes with having finally secured that elusive trophy.
Chasing History: The Road to 9,000 and 10,000
While the team goal is a title defense, Kohli himself is on the doorstep of legendary statistical milestones. Having already amassed 8,661 runs in the IPL, Kohli is tipped to become the first player in history to reach 9,000 IPL runs this season.
Even more staggering is his loyalty-based record: with 9,085 runs for RCB across all T20 competitions (including the now-defunct CLT20), he is just one prolific season away from becoming the first-ever player to score 10,000 runs for a single T20 team.
“It’s Only Going to Get Tougher”
Despite the celebration of last year’s success, Kohli isn’t letting his teammates get comfortable. In a stirring speech to the squad, he warned that being the “hunted” is harder than being the “hunter.”
“We worked really hard over the last two to three seasons to achieve what we did last year, and it’s only going to get tougher because the other teams are going to come hard at us. Switch on now. Let’s not waste even a minute.” — Virat Kohli to the RCB Squad.
Key Details for the Season Opener
The RCB title defense officially kicks off on March 28, 2026.
- Opponent: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
- Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
With new additions like Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Devdutt Padikkal joining the ranks, and Rajat Patidar leading the side, the “12th Man Army” has every reason to believe that another “Ee Sala Cup Namde” moment (now “Ee Sala Cup Mattomme”) is within reach.
Watch the full video of Virat Kohli’s net session on RCB’s official social media handles and witness the masterclass yourself!
